For all you fathers and father-like figures or mentors out there, keep passing on the skills you learned from your father to the next generation of young men and women.

When I look across my golf clubmaking workshop, I am reminded all the time of the value with working with my hands. Even many of the clubmaking tools and measurement devices I rely on are made by hand like my shaft cutting jig, ferrule turning holder, digital deflection board or blade-style grip remover to name just a few. I learned those valuable skills from my father as well as a gentleman named Forest Sands, who was like a father-figure to me and so many others too.

For many recreational golfers, they may not be aware of the network of professional golf clubmakers or the cottage industry that serves them. Golf has been around for more than 500 years and clubmakers have been around just as long to fit, build and repair golf clubs. Golf may likely be around for another 500 years and there will always be someone needed to work on golf equipment. This is especially true today when the major OEMs (Original Equipment Marketers) no longer manufacturer their own goods, but rely on someone from half a world away to build for them.

I don’t want to see a world as I get older in which we have people unable to build or fix things because we have evolved into a disposable society. For all you fathers and father-like figures or mentors out there, keep passing on the skills you learned from your father to the next generation of young men and women.

Have a great Father’s Day, enjoy some tasty grilled food, watch the US Open and hopefully play a little golf yourself. And if you have to fix something around the house, shop, garage or barn on this weekend, bring someone along to learn and help out – believe me they will appreciate it for a lifetime.